Soup fundraiser returns to Goshen First Church

Steve Wilson, Goshen News, Ind.
·2 min read

Mar. 24—GOSHEN — Soup, and a variety of it, was the cuisine of choice at Goshen First Church Saturday evening.

As an annual fundraiser for First Light Mission, GFC hosted the Empty Bowl from 5-8 p.m.

"It's going very well," said FLM Board member Loraine Troyer about set up for the event. "The set up is looking very pretty."

Thanks to a donation of hundreds of crafted ceramic bowls, on behalf of the Clay Artists Guild, guests at the fundraiser could choose from a variety of soups at $20 per person.

"Everyone gets to pick one they like, fill it with soup and take it home when done," Troyer added.

Shortly before 5 p.m., guests were lined up outside of the church. The bowls themselves were arranged on tables leading from the Fifth Street entrance to the church building, lining the halls toward the gym, where tables draped in blue tablecloths were set up and places set.

Coordinator Mindy Morehead said about 800 guests were expected to attend.

"This will be at least the 21st year," Morehead said.

Following an opening prayer by Craig Detweiler, who also serves on the FLM Board, guests began to file in. By 5:10 p.m., tables were filling up, with guests still lined up outside.

Jerry Lapp, with the Clay Artists Guild, said his organization's donation to the event stems from a sense of sharing, both for the community as a whole and for a specific mission.

"These are families that are in transition, going through rough times and will hopefully be in better situations," he said.

Varieties of soups, cooked up by church volunteers, included Southside Soda Shop's Famous Chili, white chili with chicken, Olympic vegetable beef, Olive Garden zuppa toscana, chicken noodle, creamy broccoli, chicken tortilla and cheeseburger.

Kaitlyn Erst, Syracuse, was among the first guests to arrive.

"It's really good," she said of her cheesy broccoli soup.

To learn more, visit goshenfirstgmc.org or firstlightmission.org.

Steve Wilson is news editor for The Goshen News. You can reach him at steve.wilson@goshennews.com.